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M. VON .RECKLINGHAUSEN. APPARATUS FOR STERILIZATION 0F FLUIDS BYULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4, I914. I I 9 3%09 Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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v VON BECKLINGHAUSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE E. "U. V. COMPW INQ, OENEW YORK, Y., A CORPORATION 015 NEW YORK.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, MAX VON Rnoxnmo- HAUSEN,a subject of the Emperor of. Germany, residmg at New York, in the countyand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Ap-' paratus for Sterilization of Fluids by Ultrathe action of therays while in the form of a thin sheet or film, and the object of theinvention which forms the subject of this application is primarily theproduction of a sterilizing apparatus by the use of which the fluid ispresented to the ultra-violet rays while in this condition.

The invention also embodies a means for starting the lamp into action inan apparatus of this particular kind, when its construction or mode ofuse precludes its proper movement for this purpose, independently of theapparatus, and other features of improvement useful in devices of thiskind.

To these ends the invention consists of a vessel or receptacle forcontaining the source of the rays, having corrugated walls over and down.which the water is permitted to trickle or flow in a thin film or sheetthrough the zone of the rays, into a lower part of the receptacle inwhich, if so desired, one or both ends of the lamp may be supported, soas to be immersed in and cooled by the fluid. v

The invention also comprises a vessel or receptacle of the kinddescribed, supported on pivotal bearings, so that it may be turnedthrough a certain angle, and by such move? ment bring the contained lampinto a position in which the mercury completes a metallic circuitbetween the two terminals.

Another feature of the invention consists in mounting the vessel orreceptacle on pivotal bearings and providing for it an Specification ofLetters Patent.

-with corrugations indicated by ATUS FOR STERILIEA'JLION 01E FLUIDSJB'lt 'IULTRAeVIOLET RAYS.

Patented ta i, tote.

Application filed March 1 2:, 1914i. Serial No. 82%.655.

outlet or overflow opening through which it is emptied of its contentsafter use or before bein started into operation.

Another eature of the invention involves the provision of means forautomatically regulating the rate of flow of fluid through thereceptacle, and finally, the invention involves an attachment, by theoperation of which fluid will flow through the apparatus only when thelamp is in operation.

These several features of invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of thepreferred form of apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1.

.lFig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of thereceptacle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

When the vessel or receptacle in which the sterilization takes place isone in which the lamp may'not be inserted or withdrawn at pleasure it isnecessary to provide for the tilting of the apparatus itself in orderthat the lam may be started in operation, and

that shown in the drawing being circular in general outline, and itswalls are rovided The upper portion of the receptacle contains areceiver of any suitable design into which the fluid to be sterilized isdischarged and from which it overflows on to the corrugated walls.

The receptacle A is supported by an enlarged base A. mounted by pivotalbearings H in a supporting bracket J, and the lamp B, which, as abovedescribed, is a tube bent back upon itself and the whole, bent intoU-form, projects into the receptacle from below, its ends passingthrough the base A. The device is held normally in a vertical positionby. means of a catch L which, when released, permits it to be turneduntil the mercury flowing from the terminal chambers into the main tubecompletes a metallic circuit between the two terminals and at the sametime lowers an outlet M to a point where the contents of the receptaclecan escape. To permit the free movement of the entire receptacle, thepipe or duct, by which the fluid is led into the apparatus, should havea pivotal connection therewith coincident with the axis of the device.

The base A of the main receptacle contains a perforated or opendischarge chamber from which leads an outlet M, and these parts are soconstructed that a certam amount of fluid suflicient to cool theelectrode chambers of the lamp will accumulate in the base A.

In practice I prefer to maintain the device in its operative position bymeans of an electro-magnet O in the lamp circuit. Thismagnet, whenenergized, may maintain the latch or catch L closed, but when notinfluenced by current will allow the catch to swing and drop the pivotedreceptacle. In this way, as-soon as the circuit through the lamp isinterrupted the receptacle swings 'on its pivots and is automaticallydrained of the fluid which may be in the base A.

It is important that the film of water descending over the corrugationsE shall not be too thick, and that a ready but simple means forregulating the flow should therefore be at hand. To accomplish this Iemploy in the cap or 'upper portion of the receptacle a nozzle or spoutP for delivering the fluid, which is vertically adjustable about itspivotal connection with the inlet pipe. The orifice of this spout isdirected toward the opening R of a path for fluid around the apparatus,and if the flow from the spout is too abundant, a portion of the fluidwill be carried off through this path. By the adjustment of the spoutthe amount of fluid which it can deliver into the receptacle will thusbe readily determined.

The construction of the described apparatus may be greatly' variedwithout departure from the invention, and the ways and means shown foraccomplishing the result specified may be widely modified.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violet rays,comprising in combination a source of ultra-violet rays,

a pivoted receptacle with corrugated walls containingsuch source, meansfor causing a fluid to trickle down over the corrugations in the zone ofthe rays, and means comprising an electro-magnet in the circuit of thesource of the rays for holding the receptacle in operative position whenthe lamp is energized, and to automatically release the receptacle whenthe circuit is cut off.

2. An apparatus for sterilizing fluid by exposure to ultra-violet rays,comprising, in combination, a source of ultra-violet rays which requiresto be tilted for starting it in operation, a pivoted receptaclecontaining said source, means for passing a fluid through the receptaclein. the zone of the rays, and an electro-magnet in the circuit of thesource of the rays, for holding, while energized by the current, thereceptacle in operative position and for automatically releasing thesame when the current is interrupted.

3. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violet rays,comprising in combination a source of ultra-violet rays, a pivotedreceptacle with corrugated Walls containing the said source, means forcausing a fluid to trickle down over the corrugations in the zone of therays, and an electromagnet in the circuit of the source of the rays, forholding the receptacle in position.

.41. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violetrays, comprising in combination a source of ultra-violet rays, a pivotedreceptacle with corrugated walls containing the said source, means forcausing a fluid to trickle down over the corrugations in the zone ofsuch rays, and an overflow-outlet in the base of the receptacle whichdischarges the contents of the same when the receptacle is tilted.

5. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids by exposure to ultra-violet rays,comprising in combination a pivoted receptacle through which the fluidis adapted to flow, provided with an inlet and 'an outlet for saidfluid, a trap at the bottom of the receptacle for containing a quantityof the fluid while the receptacle is in operative position, and a sourceof ultra-violet rays located in said receptacle, consisting of a mercuryvapor lamp, aportion of which is submerged in the fluid contained in thetrap, the trap being also provided with an outlet for discharging thefluid therefrom when the receptacle is turned to inoperative position.

6. An apparatus for sterilizing fluid by exposure to ultra-violet rays,comprising, in

combination, a source of ultra-violet rays, :1 pivoted receptaclecontaining said source, means for passing a fluid through the receptaclein the zone of the rays, and an electro-magnet in the circuit of thesource of rays for holding, while energized by the current, thereceptacle in operative nosition and for automatically releasing thewhich fluid trapped in the bottom of the same when the current isinterrupted. receptacle passes When the latter is turned 7. An apparatusfor sterilizing fluids by to inoperative position. exposure toultra-violet rays, comprising in In testimony whereof I aifix mysignature 5 C0mbin3ti0i1 a pvoted riaceglifitachil provided in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. l

with an in et an an out et or t e passage of fluid therethrough, asource of ultra-vio- MAX VON REGKLINGHAUSEN' let rays contained in saidreceptacle, and Witnesses: through the zone of Whose rays the fluid M.LAWSON DYAR, l0 passes, and an additional outlet through JOHN B.MCGUIRE.

